Gaps in teeth | Dental care treatments

The most common area for a gap is between the two front teeth.

  If this gap is no larger than 2 millimeters (1/32 of an inch), the space can be closed with composite bonding. 

If it is larger, orthodontics, veneers, crowns, or a combination of these approaches needs to be considered in Tooth care treatment.

If the gap is due to tooth loss, the tooth needs to be replaced with a fixed bridge Dental care treatments. 

The pace is bridged by crowning the teeth on either side of the space and connecting them with a false tooth. 

The bridge is cemented over the adjacent teeth and does not come out.

Another alternative is a removable bridge which does not require crowning of adjacent teeth. 

The removable bridge is held in place by wire clasps around the teeth on either side of the space, but is not as comfortable or as easy to care for as is the fixed bridge. 

If there are too many missing teeth, however, and the remaining teeth are loose, a removable bridge may have to be used in Tooth care treatment.

To maintain the overall health of the mouth, a lost tooth must be replaced.  Teeth are maintained in position by each other.  Therefore, if one tooth is lost, the teeth behind the space will tilt forward and the teeth in the opposite jaw will move into the space.  With time, these changes affect the bite and cause the loss of other teeth as well.  If numerous back teeth are missing, the bite may close down.  This could contribute to the formation of wrinkles around the mouth, and the premature aging in a younger adult in Gaps in teeth.

Fixed bridges have certain advantages.  They improve the bite, maintain the position of the teeth, and improve the appearance.  The disadvantages of a fixed bridge is that some tooth structure must be forfeited in order for the supporting crowns to be placed on the adjacent teeth.  A fixed bridge lasts anywhere from 5 to 20 years and costs between $400 and $1,200 per tooth.

Dentures

When all the teeth have been lost, they are replaced with a complete set of dentures.  It is a mistake, however, to believe that once dentures are in place, there are no longer any problems and therefore non need to see the dentist regularly.  Complete dentures present problems, such as decreased present problems, such as decreased chewing ability, decreased sense of taste, sore spots, and difficulty in keeping the dentures in place. They may cause embarrassment if they fall out at an awkward moment in Gaps in teeth.

What complications might dentures cause?

Several complications are associated with dentures, including a collapsed profile, too much or too little tooth display, inadequate lip support, and a resorption of the bone which supports the denture.

If the chin and nose seen to come closer together when biting, a collapsed profile may be the problem.  As denture teeth and ridges of the jaw wear, the lower jaw has to close further for the teeth to meet.  This results in a collapsed and aged looking profile.  Persistent sores in the corner of the mouth may also be a problem.  The solution is to make new dentures with the teeth set so that the jaw closes at the level it once id, restoring the profile to its proper vertical dimension.

Worn denture teeth may result in very little display of the teeth when smiling.  The solution is to replace the denture teeth with new ones.  In contrast, if dentures are too big they look like they are falling out and the gums show while smiling.  Denture teeth need to be reset in a correct position, which often entails the making of a new denture.

If the lips feel as if they are cav8ing in, and seem to have more wrinkles, the cause may be inadequate lip support by the denture.  The denture needs to be remade with a thicker flange (gum portion), and the teeth need to be placed further forward.

Another complication with dentures is that they may move around in the mouth or even fall out.  This happens because the remaining bone continually resorbs once the natural teeth are removed.  Over time, less and less bone remains to hold the dentures in place.  As a consequence, the dentures start to move around.  The first step is to have the dentures relined or remade.  If this does not provide satisfactory retention or function, implants are considered as the next step.

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